I apologize if this has been diaried or discussed(it is a day old), but the slim chances of the White House re-importing prescription drugs is now gone. Bush dangled it like a carrot, but when he won, he said, "screw 'em."(surprise! they did it
after the election). The article(from yesterday) and more below the fold:
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20041221222709990003&_mpc=news%2e10%2e15&cid=
474
A poll:
An Associated Press poll this year found that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the government should make it easier to buy cheaper drugs from Canada or other countries.
Even some Republicans want this:
Advocates for opening the borders to prescription medicines said the report ignores the reality that Americans are buying cheaper drugs from abroad safely. "Call 1,000 seniors in Minnesota who currently get their drugs from Canada. I bet you won't find a single one who'd say tomorrow morning, 'You know, Hazel, I think we'd better quit buying it from Canada," Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn., said.
And the Doctor in the House, er, Senate:
Several bills in the Senate would have permitted imports from Canada, where brand-name medicines cost one-third or more less. Legislation passed the House last year, but Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a surgeon, refused to allow a vote in the Senate.
IIRC, Frist's brother works for a large insurance company, so that might have something to do with his move. Also, the fact that he is of course a doctor and that the GOP helps Big Pharma in general.
This, in addition to Bush's SS "reform" needs to be a big issue in 06. I will say, not in Bush's defense, that re-importation does have drawbacks and isnt a permanent soultion. But Democrats need to be talking about reforming(there's the reform theme again!) the FDA and drug industries so they dont screw seniors over on drugs. Bush's Medicare Prescription Drug plan apparently has all kinds of problems, and Dems need to focus on making sure seniors and others can get affordable drugs in America and not take bus rides over the border. Pushing these issues could be incredibly beneficial because our most important Senate races are in border states(WA, MN, WI, NY, MI) and, of course, let's not forget the senior populaton in FL(Bill Nelson is up for re-election).And IIRC, a plank of Brian Schweitzer's platform in MT(again, border state) was importing prescription drugs. Seniors are very reliable voters and these issues need to be big issues for Democrats.